Father Mitchell Brown
Pax!
While rather simple and straightforward, I have never considered my story “boring.” As a call from God, it is what has led me to where I am today, and it is something that continues to sustain me daily.
I suppose I could begin with what I now consider to be a prophecy that happened when I was two years old. My grandparents took me to see my Great Aunt Sabina (may she rest in peace!). As I was wandering around causing chaos, she said “that boy is going to be a priest.” My Grammy responded “from your lips to God’s ears,” and He heard her!
More personally, I began to think about becoming a priest when I was about ten years old. In the immediate summer months after receiving First Communion, I wanted to start serving Mass, and so my Grammy said “If you are going to do this, you are going to do it right. We are going to Mass everyday this summer and you are going to learn how to serve!” Looking back, that is where I see the beginning of a providential line of grace. For in that same summer, the Franciscans gave the parish to the diocese, and I was there for the transition. The transitional deacon who was assigned there, now Father Matthew Keller, was the one who taught me to serve and who taught me to appreciate Latin, the liturgy, and chant. Later on, he answered my incessant email questions about the faith, became my vocations director when I was a seminarian, and is now the rector at the Cathedral where I am assigned! God gave me a mentor from the time I was ten, and I am blessed to continue learning from him today.
From the moment I started serving, I knew I wanted to be a priest. I wanted to be like those I assisted at Mass, and, thank God, that never wavered. Having a supportive Catholic family and home environment helped, for there were plenty of books to read (including and especially Ven. Fulton Sheen!) and things to remind me of the faith. I remember in particular my mom taking me to confession and adoration, and her praying the rosary before bed. I also remember constantly asking my CCD teachers for answers to my questions about faith and theology, since I knew I would have to teach that myself one day.
By the time I got to high school, that all came in handy, because I started teaching CCD and even defending the faith in my English and history classes. The more I studied, the more I saw how beautiful and harmonious the faith is, and how integrally it is presented by the teaching of the Church. I knew more and more that I wanted to be a priest so that I could help others appreciate that same beauty.
At that point, my faith was rather “academic.” I prayed regularly, but since I liked science and math a lot in high school, I think I ended up treating matters divine in a somewhat scientific way. There is room for that, but not to the exclusion of a relationship with the Lord. Nevertheless, God used that to continue to draw me in to His mystery.
The linchpin was placed my junior year in high school. It was announced that we had been given a new bishop, James Wall, a priest from Phoenix. I remember making copies of the announcement and handing it out to people at (public) school! I was very excited. This only increased when I was asked to serve at his consecration on 23 April AD 2009. At the end of that Mass, he said that he wanted his time in Gallup to be one that promoted three things: a culture of life, vocations, and…I didn’t even hear the third one because I was so excited to hear him mention vocations! Fr. Keller was the only other person who had ever talked to me about that, and so I knew I could “work for this guy.” A week later, Bishop Wall came to my home parish for confirmations. He remembered me (which surprised me, since his whole life had just changed), really liked my confirmation name (Athanasius), and then confirmed me. I think that my call was confirmed in that moment too.
During senior year, I continued teaching classes and studying, and after graduation I was able to start the application process. Because I was so sure of my vocation, I honestly saw seminary as a hurdle, something to get out of the way. I recognize now how important it is to have those extended years of formation.
Bishop Wall sent me to two different seminaries. For philosophy, I went for four years to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH, and then for theology I was sent to the Pontifical North American College in Rome for five years, the last two of which were spent on a degree in liturgical theology at the University of the Holy Cross. The years of seminary were years of growth and challenge, particularly in learning to “unlearn” some of my learned habits of relating to the Lord. Especially in Rome, surrounded by the saints (St. Catherine of Siena in particular), beauty, history, and great friends, I was able to understand better the importance of a personal relationship with Christ and His Church. It’s something I still strive for today, and which truly makes all the difference, not only as a priest, but as a Christian.
After ordination on 9 June AD 2018, and the final year of studies, I was assigned to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup, New Mexico, where I am today. Most of the time here has been during the pandemic, yet the Lord has not been stingy in pouring out His grace upon His donkey-priest in that time! Quite the opposite in fact. I continue under the mentorship of Fr. Keller, thoroughly enjoy teaching and preaching in the parish and for the diocese, have the opportunity to see the school kids next door regularly, and am blessed to be among some great parishioners and families. There is still much to learn, but it can only get better and more glorious, for it is into the Heart of Christ that we venture, that place of infinite majesty and grace.
A few fun facts. I was in Tae Kwon Do for twelve years before seminary, and earned my first degree black belt. Bluegrass, country, New Mexican, and classical are my favorite types of music. I make rosaries of all sorts by hand.